Record #00329Nature archive
Longest-Lived Verified Non-Colonial Animal Individual
Ming, an individual ocean quahog clam collected off northern Iceland in 2006, was aged using growth increments in its shell. Its estimated age was revised to 507 years in 2013, and Guinness recognizes it as the longest-lived confirmed non-colonial animal individual.
ARCHIVE VISUAL / 01
NOT TO SCALE
Current Record
507years
Current record value
- Location
- Off the north coast of Iceland
- Start date
- 2013
- Record status
- VerifiedView verification details ↗Report an issue
Overview
Archive NoteThe ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) is a long-lived bivalve in the cold North Atlantic. Annual shell growth increments offer an age estimate and environmental record.
Bangor University researchers recovered this individual from waters north of Iceland in 2006. Initial estimates in 2007 put it at 405–410 years; refinements in 2013 revised the age to 507. It died at collection, so this is not a living-animal age record.
Record history
1 Milestones- 507 yearsMing the ocean quahog clamOff the north coast of IcelandCurrent Record
Sources
Evidence & ReferencesVerification basis and limitations
VerifiedThe record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Basis: direct confirmation by an authority
Guinness's original record entry expressly establishes the global comparison as well as the reported metric.
- Verification assessment
- 2026-11-04
- Last editorial review
- 2026-11-04
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